Indicating instrument for hightension ignition devices



Jan. 15,1935. A. KORNFELD 1,988,245

INDICATING INSTRUMENT FOR HIGH TENSION IGNITION DEVICES Filed Sept. 8, 1934 5 T] :2- i i INVENTOR v HUR KOANFELD Patented Jan. 15, 1935 mwima PATENT OFFICE mass 7 lNsraunmNr son mon- TENSION IGNITION nsvrcns 'm... Kai-mm, New York, N. 1.

Application September a, 1934, Serial No. 743,263 f2 Claims. (01. 175-133) The invention relates to indicating instruments for use with the ignition elements of internal combustion engines in which a fixed order of firing prevails. V

It has for an object the provision of a telltale or indicating means to aflord visual indication not only of the operation of each particular high-tension ignition element, such as the usual spark plug, but also to indicate to a certain degree, as by the intensity ofillumination, the eflectiveness of the ignition element in each particular case.

A further object of the invention resides in means of this nature which shall be effective without producing disturbances to radio apparatus located in the vicinity thereof.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a tell-tale structure embodying individually indicating lamp units which shall be positioned for ready replacement when required and of such a nature as to be inexpensive to replace.

In carrying out the invention, a suitable casing is provided for mounting therein a plurality of gaseous-discharge lamps in number corresponding to the number of high-tension ignition elements or spark plugs, the lamps being individually connected thereto in shunt and arranged in the order corresponding to the fixed and predetermined order of firing of the said ignition elements. An opaque dial member is mounted over the series of lamps, which will successively illuminate as the corresponding spark plugs are energized; and this dial is provided with openings or cut-out indicia juxtaposed to the different lamps for identifying the corresponding ignition elements.

There isfurther associated with the various indicia suitable windows through the dial exposing a major portion of a corresponding lamp, so that the character of the discharge therein will be clearly visible to afiord an indication of the state or condition of the particular ignition elementin action and/or its associated circuit and controlling devices.

The said lamps, furthermore, are preferably mounted upon the back of the casing with the dial located in front of the same; and the easing is closed at the front as by means of a suitable cap member including a transparent cover through which the dial may be viewed. The latter is conveniently mounted in the casing as by seating it upon the casing rim with the cap member fitting thereover andv serving to hold to the same in place. The cap to this end may haveascrew fit with the outer end of the casing .or merely a sliding fit, in either event being conveniently removable to admit of ready access to the dial for removal of the same to allow of replacing of a lamp or lamps when required. The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connec- 'tion with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating .the electrical connections for associating the indicating instrument with a plurality of spark plugs.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation; and Fig. 3 a transverse sectional view of the novel indicating instrument.

Referring to the drawing, more particularly Figs. 2 and 3 thereof, the novel indicating instrument is shown as comprising a casing 10 including a removable back plate 11 of insulation material and designed'to carry the various illumination members hereinafter more fully described. The front of the casing is closed by a dial 12 over which may be located a disk 13 of glass or other transparent material to seal said casing and through which the dial may be viewed.

To hold these elements, to wit: the dial and disk, in position, the former may shoulder upon the outer edge 14 of the casing with the latter resting upon the dial, a screw cap 15 fitting thereover and serving through its inturned flange 16 to press the two elements firmly toward the shoulder, suitable gaskets 17 being interposed if desired. To accurately position the dial with respect to the casing, the former maybe oppositely notched as at 18 and 19 to fit corresponding projections 20 and 21, respectively, of the casing.

The dial 12 is provided with circularly spaced indicia constituted by openings 22 therethrough, each particular opening 22 being associated, furthermore, with a window 23 cut through the dial, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Through these windows and indicia is designed to be displayed the light from a succession of lamps 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, as the same are successively illuminated. Both the indicia and the windows will thus simultaneously become illuminated, the former giving an indication of the particular member, as a spark plug 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 is energized from the distributor 3'7 of an internal combustion engine or the like (not shown), and the latter giving an indication of the particular character of the ignition effected by the spark plug.

The lamps 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 are of the gaseous-discharge type and may be provided with end terminals -40 affording a cartridge type of lamp adapted to be removably held in clips 41 attached to the back 11 so as to provide for ready replacement when required, the lamps being rendered accessible by unscrewing the cap 15 and lifting oi! the disk 13 and dial 12 from the casing. Suitable terminals 43 extend to the rear oi the back plate 11 to aflord convenient connection to the various lamps.

As indicated in Fig. 1 or the drawing, these lamps are individually connected to the diilerent spark plugs, there being interposed, however, between said plugs and the respective lamps switches 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50. respectively, all operating simultaneously, for example through a connecting bar 51 in order that the instrument .as a whole may be disconnected. While the nature of these gaseous-diseharge lamps is such that they'will operate .without any positive ground connection, it is preferred to ground all of said lamps as through the common lead 52 and through a substantial resistance 53.

By the arrangement aforesaid, a light \will appear successively in the indicia and windows of the dial 12 it all or the spark plugs are functioning properly, the order 01 the illumina-.

tion being clockwise in the particular arrangement shown; and if one or more 0! the plugs or a circuit theretoshould taiLthis will immediately be apparent at the instrument either by no illumination occurring or by an excessive illumination appearing at the particular window.

I claim:

1. An indicating instrument adapted for use with a plurality of high-tension ignition elements operating in a predetermined sequence,

. tion or a lamp other than that displayed through said device comprising a casing, a plurality of elongated, stationary gaseous-discharge lamps connection in shunt respectively with said ig- 5 nition devices, said lamps being arranged in the casing in the said order of sequence for succes sive illumination as the respective ignition devices become energized, and an opaque dial coveringthe lamps and having cut-out indicia each illuminable by a corresponding lamp and juxtaposed to the respective lamps for identiiying the corresponding ignition elements, together with associated windows for displaying a major porits indicia opening.

2. An indicating instrument adapted for use with a plurality of high-tension ignition elements operating in a predetermined sequence, said device comprising a casing, a pluralityot elongated, stationary gaseous-discharge lamps mounted therein and in number equal to the ignition elements, and adapted for individual connection in shunt respectively with said ignition devices, said lampsbeingarrangedintheoasinginthesaidzo order 01' sequence for successive illumination as the respective ignition devices become energized, an opaque dial covering the lamps and having cut-out indicia each ,illuminable by a corresponding lamp and juxtaposed to the respective lamps for identifying the corresponding ignition elements, together with associated windows for displaying a major portion of a lamp other than that displayed through its indicia opening, and a removable cap member closing the casing and including a transparent cover 'ior the dial, whereby access may be had to a lamp.

ARTHUR KORNFELD. 

